The province of Utrecht has many data at its disposal. Think of data on climate change, public transport passenger information, or what the area will look like in thirty years. The Data, Knowledge, and Insight (DKI) cluster has been set up to get a better overview and grip on this data. A young and enthusiastic data team is responsible for translating data into informative dashboards for policy staff. To bring the knowledge of data staff on various topics up to the same level, Cmotions was engaged in professional training. In addition, Cmotions helped train soft skills among the data specialists. This enables them to communicate well with the rest of the organization about the desired results. This way, data gains more value within the province of Utrecht.
Getting started with data
The Information Provision and Automation Department (IEA) within the province of Utrecht is responsible for everything to do with information provision and ICT services.
Lianne Aartse Tuijn-Meppelink, cluster coordinator of Data, Knowledge, and Insight (DKI), explains, “We deal with matters such as workplace management, business information management, application management, and information security within our IEA department daily. One thing was missing from these processes: data. In 2020, the Data, Knowledge, and Insight cluster was created to change this.”
A pilot was started around selecting an appropriate business intelligence (BI) tool.
“Several people from the organization were involved in the pilot, and thus considerable support was created,” Lianne continues.
“We developed an initial application with Microsoft Power BI. From various conversations, it became clear that there was a great need throughout the organization to do more with data. Managers, for example, could use more steering information based on data to effectively steer toward achieving goals. Also, colleagues did not know what information they had about each other. To change this, data specialists were trained and hired. Several data science trainees also started working.”
More power behind working with data
Thus, the first steps were taken to give data a more central role within the province of Utrecht.
“These events together formed the perfect moment to put more power behind working with data,” says Lianne.
“Within the data team, many young people work with different backgrounds. We wanted to ensure that all noses are pointed in the same direction and that the business could work with data solutions and applications.”
Through The Analytics Lab, Lianne came into contact with Cmotions.
“We started talking, and there was an immediate click. Together we looked at which training courses from Cmotions fit our needs. We arrived at training courses on subject matter and soft skills.”
Knowledge and skills
“The goal of subject matter training is to get everyone on the same level,” Lianne explains.
“All employees have a data background, but the knowledge on various topics differs. Every training is different. In addition, we could use tools to apply things like Scrum in practice. And when you talk about data strategy, it’s nice to think about it so you don’t just do something randomly. Furthermore, I found it important to teach all team members something about making a business case, to become more aware of why you do something and what you want to achieve with it.”
Interview techniques and persuasion
In addition to subject matter training, the data team also took courses on soft skills.
“Our employees often have direct contact with the customer, often a policy officer,” Lianne explains.
“There is no project manager in between. That’s why it’s important to understand what the customer wants to achieve. Our employees learn how to uncover the customer’s underlying needs using conversation techniques. Technical people often understand each other, but it is also important that a technical person can have a good conversation with a non-technical person. And that he knows how to convince the customer why certain choices are being made.”
